CHAPTER 7 Can we start over?

       Is the woman trying to annoy him? Can't she even find a decent clothing to dress herself? Those were the thoughts currently running in Matan's head as he beheld the vision in black coming into the restaurant. He was more annoyed to see Theo with a smug smile on his face while Eliza's hand was on his arm as they were ushered in. Noticing the admiring looks she was garnering, he slowly took off his coat and swiftly covered her with it all the while whispering "Are you intentionally attracting attention to yourself?"

       Eliza was shocked and incensed with his action and whispered words that she stopped, flung his coat back at him and and said aloud " Ain't your damn business. You're not my keeper!?"

        Matan was taken aback by her response that he nearly dragged her out of the restaurant if not for Theo managing to lead her away before their altercation escalated further. To be fair, Eliza was attired appropriately compared to some of the lady diners present. It was just his active imagination and dare he name them, jealousy and possessiveness rearing their heads which is really silly and weird. She is just another annoying female acquaintance, nothing more, nothing less. Yeah right, so why then is he so annoyed when she interacts and socializes with other men? Trying to dismiss her out of his mind and sight, he turned to his business associate who was grinning at him senselessly.

        "What d'you grinning at?" he snarled.

         "Nothing," his business associate replied but was still grinning while his gaze was locked on Eliza.

          "Who is that? One of your numerous girlfriends? May I steal her? Is she available?", his business associate asked nonstop.

          "None of your freakin business and I do not have numerous girlfriends. What are ya talking about? Would you like me to terminate our partnership? Since when did you become a magazine journalist intent on scoring scoops about other people's lives? " Matan quizzed his associate. 

           "Woah, easy there, old fella! I was just joking and curious. It isn't like you to be so solicitous of someone you don't care about. If she is just an acquaintance so be it. Why then won't you introduce me? As you know I am in need of a wife, a very beautiful wife and your acquaintance seems to fit the bill. You know what, I will just introduce myself." His associate was about to get up when Matan pushed him right back down. 

          "Stay the hell away from her!", Matan threatened.

           Surprised though he was, his associate settled down. He knew when the other guy is serious about something or someone. He is in denial but he apparently has some feelings towards the beautiful woman. Who can fault him, based on what he is observing right now, the woman seems to be intelligent and witty as evidenced by her companion's chuckles every now and then. Lucky bastard, he thought.

          Matan was having opposite thoughts though and somewhat bordering on the macabre. He is imagining ways of torturing Theo in the most painful way possible. How come he can make Eliza laugh whereas, he, Matan can only put frowns and anger on her face? Maybe they can start anew but how? He was still pondering the notion when his associate suddenly excused himself. 

         "Sorry bro, got to take this call," he excused himself. Matan let him go with a wave of his hand. His associate has contacted him from Italy a year ago and only arrived in the UAE in the past five months. He invested a lot in his bar so he didn't really investigate that much. All he knew is the guy was searching for opportunities in the middle east and Matan was just lucky to have gotten his attention. When he asked him how he got to know his name, he mentioned Devlin. Devlin didn't deny knowing the guy so Matan was reassured. There was something weird that happened though because when they finally met in person, he blurted out a name that he doesn't know but he immediately retracted what he said so Matan ignored it. Putting the guy out of his mind at the moment, he turned his attention to where Eliza and Theo were seated and saw just in time Theo casually draping his arm over Eliza's shoulders and taking a selfie. He was instantly infuriated and would have gotten off his seat were it not for the expression on Eliza's face. It was a split second reaction but he saw it, so keen was he in observing her that a grimace wouldn't have escaped his attention. Good he thought, she is not enjoying the date just as he isn't enjoying his business dinner. Of all the restaurants and hotels in the world or Abu Dhabi to be specific, why did the idiot bring Eliza here, to spite him? Matan thwack himself on the head. Why does he care if Theo chose the restaurant for their date, it was Matan's fault for not checking first so now, he is suffering because of his poor choice. But he is starting to regret ever annoying Eliza. He just wants her attention on him and not on others which is really surprising because normally, he doesn't care one way or another. With Eliza, it seems there is an exemption, he wants all her attention. But how to start anew?

        Theo was enjoying his time with Eliza, she seems so refreshing after all the ladies he had a fling with. However, all his charming ways seem not to work on this particular woman. There is wariness in her eyes despite her laughing at his jokes. The only real reaction she shows is when his boss' son annoys her. That might be a problem, but oh well, all's fair in love and war, is it not? As he was busy thinking on ways to charm her more, Eliza's mind is elsewhere or on someone else. She couldn't help but steal glances at the gentleman on the other side of the restaurant. Matan looks so deep in thought, she saw him thwack his head then shaking it. Suddenly, Matan looked her way and caught her staring at him. Eliza blushed from head to toe and averted her gaze quickly. 

        Matan smiled, she is not so immune after all. He could build on that but first he must finish this damn business so he can start atoning to Eliza in earnest. Not wanting to wait for his associate to come back, he paid for their dinner and went out in search of him. On his way out, he passed by Theo and Eliza's table, grabbed her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it. Eliza was so startled that she was not able to react before Matan waved at them goodbye. 

       When he reached the exit of the restaurant, he looked back and catching her stare, mouthed "See you tomorrow, shall we start anew?"then blew a kiss. He grinned when Eliza was stunned some more. He saw her place her palm on her chest while her eyes reflected surprise and something else. Not wanting to dwell some more on the whats and hows of her reaction, he left. Tomorrow, he'd sort it out hopefully. Enough of these denials, who is he fooling?